Palm Springs Convention Center hosting aviation convention

General aviation pilots and enthusiasts are about to take over Palm Springs.

After a six-year break, they're returning to the city for what the convention center and bureau of tourism is billing as one of the largest conventions to ever hit the city.

Like six years ago, a "Parade of Planes" from Palm Springs International Airport to the convention center will mark the opening Wednesday of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Aviation Summit.

Over the course of the convention that runs through Saturday, the AOPA is projecting it will pump about $10 million into the local economy.

"When people come they stay you know, of course, downtown benefits from that," said Andrea Berry, director of outreach and events for AOPA. "Palm Springs more than any place we take our convention, people take a guest, a non-flying guest who wants to actually get out and do things in the area."

About 10,000 people are expected to attend the convention.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Planes will travel along a one-mile route that will head west along Alejo road from the back entrance of the airport and then south on Avenida Caballeros ending at the convention center.

The public is invited to attend.

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